2010 NFL Season - Week 12

Thursday Games - winning picks in red

New England at Detroit

Cincinnati at NYJets

New Orleans at Dallas

2010 NFL Season - Week 11

Sunday Games - winning picks are in red


Baltimore at Carolina - Baltimore has the upper edge because Carolina's defense is poor, poor, poor

Buffalo at Cincinnati - Buffalo will be taking the sweet smell of victory with them to Cincinnati

Detroit at Dallas - This is the worse time for downtrodden Detroit to be meeting a regenerated Dallas

Cleveland at Jacksonville - Just don't think Jacksonville will be able to withstand Cleveland's punishing playing

Arizona at Kansas City - KC back at home and hopefully will put the 2 road losses behind them

Green Bay at Minnesota - This game will probably be the final nail in Childress and Favres coffin this year

Houston at New York Jets - Jets have been lucky last few games, seems like there not firing on all cylinders and they probably won't need them this week either

Oakland at Pittsburgh - West coast to East coast thingy will not work out for Raiders this year

Washington at Tennessee - Washington is a flop again this year and now even more so because you have a undermotitaving QB with a guaranteed 5 year contract not seeing eye to eye with your coach

Seattle at New Orleans - 2 road wins for Seattle, is this a miracle team in the making?

Tampa Bay at San Francisco - TB out to the west coast although this time to a comfy SF home team

Atlanta at St Louis - St Louis plays very well at home except they just can't seem to get past 20 points

Indianapolis at New England - Since they're my team I wish the COLTS well this game, but damn them injuries are heavy this year...

Sunday Night Game:

New York Giants at Philadelphia - Only hope for NYG is to try and get at Vick, other than that I don't think they will fare well - - BONUS: NYG 29 - Eagles 34

Monday Night Game:

Denver at San Diego - If Denver can start scoring early they might have a chance

2010 NFL Season - Week 10

Sunday Games - winning picks are in red

Detroit at Buffalo - Both team are chomping at the bit for this game to come, can Detroit pull a rabbit out of the hat????

New York Jets at Cleveland - Not sure what is happening but Jets are having defense problems and Cleveland is playing big time football

Minnesota at Chicago - Minnesota has only beaten Detroit, Dallas and Arizona and them were at home

Cincinnati at Indianapolis - Are the Colts injuries finally catching up with them? So far they have been able to withstand the pressure pretty good and at home this week they should hold on one more time

Houston at Jacksonville - Jacksonville will sink at home after two games on the road

Tennessee at Miami - Tennessee road games 29.5 vs 18.2 - Miami home games 19.7 vs 31.7

Carolina at Tampa Bay - Only thing I can say about this match-up is TB can score higher in games at times then Carolina can

Kansas City at Denver - Denver has to loosey goosey of a defense this year

Seattle at Arizona - Seattle on the road still play lousy and even worse in domes

Dallas at New York Giants - Dallas is totally lost, way to much confusion

St Louis at San Francisco - St Louis is becoming another Seattle

Sunday Night Game

New England at Pittsburgh - Grass will help Pittsburgh - - BONUS: NE 18 Pittsburgh 23

Monday Night Game

Philadelphia at Washington - Just seems like Vick will be the upper hand again

Leaning against the Goal Post - Thursday Edition

Well we start Thursday Night Football this week which reminds us that the season is winding down and the big time holidays are coming soon...

Week nine we had: 7 home teams winning, 6 away teams winning, 10 high percentage pick teams winning and 3 underdog teams winning...

Thursday Night Game - winning pick in red

Baltimore at Atlanta - Baltimore scores an avg. of 14.2 pts and allows their opponents to score 15.2 pts on the road. Atlanta scores an avg. of 30.7 pts and allows their opponents to score 18.5 pts at home. An added stat is that Baltimore for some reason turns the ball over more on the road then they do at home...

Catch you all tomorrow with the rest of my picks for the week and enjoy your day, as I watch Wade Phillips look for a new job while leaning against the goal post...

2010 NFL Season - Week 9

Sunday Games - winning picks are in red

Chicago at Buffalo - Buffalo has been on the edge for most of their games, look for Chicago's TOs this week to give Buffalo a win

Miami at Baltimore - Baltimore's defense was weakening a bit before they went on bye so the rest should bring them back

Tampa Bay at Atlanta - TB isn't a bad team but 2 weeks on the road and that hard battle last week against Arizona will takes its toll

New Orleans at Carolina - Does anybody else get the feeling that NO will not play well here this week for some strange reason?

New England at Cleveland - Won't be too easy for NE but easy enough

New York Jets at Detroit - Just want to throw a few stats out for you all: For 2010 season Jets on the road have avg. 31 pts and allowed an avg of 19 pts per game - Lions at home have avg 37.7 pts and allowed an avg of 22 pts per game, Detroit will not be a push-over

San Diego at Houston - Sometimes grass can help a team

Arizona at Minnesota - Through all the troubles Minnesota has had, for the most part they have kept a even keel on offensive pts while Arizona pts go up at home and down on the road

New York Giants at Seattle - Will 2 weeks on the road and against a team that would be in the Superbowl every year if all their games were at home take a little toll on NYG - CORRECTION: The previous statement and Seattle pick to win was based on Hasselbeck playing, with "I haven't tossed a pass in 4 years Whitehurst" playing, it is a far different ending

Kansas City at Oakland - Beware KC, be very aware

Indianapolis at Philadelphia - Vick or no Vick, opponents passing game is what has hampered Philadelphia in many games and who does the Colts have??????

Sunday Night Game -

Dallas at Green Bay - I can't believe Wade Phillips is still coach, JJ must be getting soft in his ol' age - LOL ----- BONUS: Dallas 20 - Green Bay 23

Monday Night Game -

Pittsburgh at Cincinnati - Cincinnati's defense is very porous and more so in last 3 games

Leaning against the Goal Post

I've been slacking for awhile on this post, my last post was OCTOBER 13th

So what has the Neutral Football League been up to as far as pick wise?

Week 6 we had 8 home teams winning, 6 away teams winning, 9 high percentage pick teams winning and 5 underdog teams winning

Week 7 we had 8 home teams winning, 6 away teams winning, 10 high percentage pick teams winning and 4 underdog teams winning

This Week 8 we had 9 home teams winning, 4 away teams winning, 7 high percentage pick teams winning and 6 underdog teams winning

So through the half way mark of the season we find playing at home (68) has a distinct advantage over playing on the road (49). Also it does seem like the public's favorite picked team (68) each week comes out ahead of the underdog teams (50)

For myself I stand at 65 winning picks out of 117 games giving me a mediocre 55% pick average :-(

Yet with all them stats we still have teams sitting with 1 and 6 records that with just a slight turn of events these next 8 weeks and they could actually make it to the playoffs. Go Figure...

Well that is it for this week as I go back watching the circus they call the NFL while leaning against the goal post...

For up - to - date daily NFL news during the week go to Mac's Football Blog

2010 NFL Season - Week 8

Sunday Games - winning picks are in red


Miami at Cincinnati - talk about 2 backwards teams, Miami plays better on road and CinCin can't get it together yet

Jacksonville at Dallas - Both teams are poor, poor, poor but if I had money on this match up i would go Dallas's way

Washington at Detroit - These 2 teams always put on a good game and I giving Detroit one more chance to show me they have changed...

Buffalo at Kansas City - KC has 2 losses which were to better teams and Buffalo does not rank as a better team this year

Green Bay at New York Jets - Jets more then likely will be going to the Superbowl and GB is not going to slow that movement down

Denver at San Francisco - San Francisco plays better at home although they still lose, Denver plays away just as bad as at home

Carolina at St Louis - have to favor Big Lou at home over a sad Carolina

Tennessee at San Diego - First trip to west coast for Tenn. this year and will not be fruitful

Tampa Bay at Arizona - read Buffalo/KC above except change team names

Minnesota at New England - Please why is Farve still playing besides just to pacify his big ego

Seattle at Oakland - Seattle is still bad on road no matter what happened 2 weeks ago in Chicago

Sunday Night Game -

Pittsburgh at New Orleans - NO is finding out how hard it is to try and be a top NFL team year after year and they're not doing very well - - BONUS: Pittsburgh 24 - New Orleans 18

Monday Night Game -

Houston at Indianapolis - Battle #2 this year and I really don't think Mr. Manning will be forgetting what happened in battle #1 and will correct that problem just fine...

2010 NFL Season - Week 7

This not going to be my usual pick mode this week as I have studying to do and Nov. is coming which means I will be slowly picking up more tax studys/classes and working my way to tax season...

Sunday Games - winning picks are in red

Cincinnati at Atlanta

Buffalo at Baltimore

San Francisco at Carolina

Washington at Chicago

Jacksonville at Kansas City

Pittsburgh at Miami

Cleveland at New Orleans

Philadelphia at Tennessee

St Louis at Tampa Bay

Arizona at Seattle

Oakland at Denver

New England at San Diego

Sunday Night Game;

Minnesota at Green Bay - - BONUS: Minnesota 28 - Green Bay 25

Monday Night Game;

New York Giants at Dallas

2010 NFL Season - Week 6

Sunday Games - Winning picks are in Red


Seattle at Chicago – Seattle is still a lousy road team and Chicago even without Cutler should be able to handle them for another win

Miami at Green Bay - GB has not had a hard team to play at home yet and just barely beat the ones they did play; Miami has won on the road against NFC North

Kansas City at Houston – Houston has a very loose defense and if KC can make the right offensive plays and defense plays like it has been, they should come out victors even though it is their 2nd week on the road

Baltimore at New England – Baltimore’s defense is tops, their offense can play up or down, New England looks like they have it together now but it might have been just the teams they’ve played

Detroit at New York Giants – Yes Detroit is pumped from last week but have they turned the corner? Giants last two games have been solid playing with wins, only downfall I see is if NYG take Detroit lightly

Atlanta at Philadelphia – Atlanta has a knack this year of winning close ones and Philadelphia’s only losses this year have been at home

Cleveland at Pittsburgh – Cleveland is equal on both sides of the ball with low scoring, Pittsburgh has done very good without Big Ben but he does come back this week

San Diego at St Louis - St Louis will be trying to overcome their terrible showing against Detroit and SD should provide what they need to do it, since they haven’t won on the road yet this season

New Orleans at Tampa Bay – This match up is interesting considering you have one team who plays down to their opponents level and another team who has only played one good team this year

New York Jets at Denver – Denver lost to the Colts at home and the Jets are 10 times better then the Colts this year

Oakland at San Francisco – Oakland has a chance to maybe get to play-offs if they put the playoff hopes of SF to rest this week

Dallas at Minnesota – Two sad teams, playing sad players, being watched by a sad crowd and sadly Mr Favre should have just stayed retired instead of going out like this

Sunday Night Game:

Indianapolis at Washington – Just remember in every ones eyes Washington actually beat Houston - Bonus: Redskins 23 - Colts 21

Monday Night Game:

Tennessee at Jacksonville – Lets just say deja-vu from 2009 shall strike Tennessee

For up - to - date daily NFL news during the week go to Mac's Football Blog

Leaning against the Goal Post

Day late and a dollar short with posting this week - - -

Another wacky week in the Neutral Football League where for some unseen reason the
little man in the closet wants all the teams as close to equal as possible.

I ended up winning 4 out of 14 and it don't even matter why I did because IMO what matters is what's taking shape in the league.

WEEK 1 - teams came out like stormtroopers with 12 home teams winning, 4 away teams winning, 9 high percentage pick teams winning and 7 underdog teams winning

12 - 4 - 9 - 7

WEEK 2 - NO! NO! NO! that will not do - The little man in the closet tells them to tone it down; 8 home teams win, 8 away teams win, 10 hpp teams win and 6 underdogs win

8 - 8 - 10 - 6

WEEK 3 - We must become more neutral on the field says little closet man; 8 home teams win, 8 away teams win, 8 hpp teams win and 8 underdog teams win

8 - 8 - 8 - 8

WEEK 4 - Nice says the little closet man, lets try to stay in them boundaries during the bye weeks; 8 home teams win, 6 away teams win, 7 hpp teams win and 7 underdog teams win

8 - 6 - 7 - 7

WEEK 5 - AHHHHHHHHHH! how wonderful closet man says while sipping tea and enjoying feng seng music; 7 home teams win, 7 away teams win, 7 hpp teams win and 7 underdog teams win

7 - 7 - 7 - 7

I can hardly wait to see what this week will bring because somewhere during the remaining season, the little man needs to boost the numbers up for the away and underdog teams

Anyways, that just my take of the whole thing while leaning against the goal post...

For up - to - date daily NFL news during the week go to Mac's Football Blog

2010 NFL Season - Week 5

Sunday Games - Winning picks are in Red


Denver at Baltimore - 2nd week on road and against a tough defensive team

Jacksonville at Buffalo - We know what Buffalo can do at home but we really don't know what Jags can do on road since they only have had one road trip and that was a loss. Both teams though have lousy defenses.

Chicago at Carolina - I am going to treat last week as just a fluke game for Chicago and should get back to winning against a team that so far this season plays poor at home

Tampa Bay at Cincinnati - Tampa Bay is rested and Cincinnati needs to focus on the game at hand in order to win games, they should this week after letting Cleveland get over them last week

Atlanta at Cleveland - Don't take Cleveland lightly like Cincinnati did, they not that bad and don't be surprised when they win by a point

St Louis at Detroit - It ain't going to happen this week for Detroit either, St Louis is getting in their groove and Detroit is Detroit so close but no cigar

New York Giants at Houston - NYG needs to start scoring points. Houston has a very, very loose defense,the trouble for NYG is Houston also can score points to overcome

Kansas City at Indianapolis - OH! this is a tough pick, because KC can run the ball and Colts do not have good run defense and I love the Colts over all other teams but...

Green Bay at Washington - Washington will be ready for this close, close match-up

New Orleans at Arizona - NO defense has been playing like the teams they play against and they have just barely escaped with wins in some games, Arizona's downfall is bad defense against a high passing QB

Tennessee at Dallas - Dallas is rested and finally looks like they might be coming around and just in the nick of time before Ol' JJ starts kicking

San Diego at Oakland - Will be a good game but SD will continue adding to their win stats vs Oakland

Sunday Night Game:

Philadelphia at San Francisco - McNabb is gone, Vick is hurt and SF needs a big win - BONUS; SF 24 - Phil. 20

Monday Night Game:

Minnesota at New York Jets - Moss will not make a difference this week for his new/old team and I'm afraid the Jets are real deal this year


For up - to - date daily NFL news during the week go to Mac's Football Blog

Leaning against the Goal Post

Week 4 is over and again I question myself as to why I even bother doing this especially when I read others who say I pick teams by what color uniforms they wears or I just flip a coin and they end up like 14 out of 16 right, LOL. I went 7 -7 for the week (makes 36 out of 62 games) and wasn't even close on some, why?why?why? do I torture myself... I blame my poor picking this week on my blasted head cold that I can't get rid of.

Cleveland was a complete surprise to me, never even seen that win coming over Cincinnati

Green Bay did not play as well as I thought they would against Detroit

I knew Baltimore /Pittsburgh was going to be rough and tumble but looks like I guessed wrong as to which team had the edge offensively

Seattle continue losing on the road like I thought they would

Oakland played tough against Houston just came up short on points to pull off a win for me.

Colts, Colts, Colts - it was a nice kick but they should never had allowed Jags to get to that position, still a poor defense this year...

Chicago looked POOR, very POOR, at times it seemed like the offense didn't know what to do or who to block, like first year high schooler's out there

Miami started great, so I went to bed and woke up to find that NE whipped their butts good after I stopped watching and so it was a fitting end to a horrible picking week for me

Maybe next week I'll just pick teams by what letter comes first in the alphabet

Basic stats for advantages:

14 TEAMS TOTAL:

8 teams won at home this week

6 teams won on the road this week

7 teams won who were picked as favorites

7 underdog teams won

That's a wrap for this week and I'm going to go keep warm, drink my fluids, take my vitamins and continue to search the field for the ultimate pick week, while leaning against the goal post

For up - to - date daily NFL news during the week go to Mac's Football Blog

2010 NFL Season - Week 4

Sunday Games - Winning picks are in Red


San Francisco at Atlanta – West coast/East coast thingy with a team that is in 2nd week of road travel and still trying to gel together this season against a good run defense

New York Jets at Buffalo – Jets coming in on 2nd week of road travel and Buffalo seems good with new quarterback last week but Jets defense should handle the job. Just beware that Jets could suffer a let down in 2nd half…

Cincinnati at Cleveland – Cincinnati is coming on strong this season while Cleveland has not played terrible but they have played without the eye of the tiger…

Detroit at Green Bay – Yeah right, after last week good luck in GB being this will be 2nd week on road for a weary, confused team already…

Carolina at New Orleans – Carolina after this week will be 4-0 and IMO out of the playoffs already…

Baltimore at Pittsburgh – Both teams have allowed their opponents so far this season very few points, Pittsburgh though has a slight offensive edge. Should be a close, tough and tumble game…

Seattle at St Louis – OK, what have we learned so far this season boys and girls with one of these teams that have continued their old ways?

Denver at Tennessee – Defense and Denver traveling from high to low will win it this week for Tennessee…

Indianapolis at Jacksonville – One team is going upwards and one team seems to be going downwards…

Houston at Oakland – Houston’s defense is lousy this season; they lucked out against Washington by rattling their FG kicker at the last minute but not against the Cowboys. Oakland played tough against Arizona. Hint: Oakland did beat Houston in an even year gone past…

Washington at Philadelphia – Here’s the question is Green Bay as good or equal as Dallas and Houston?

Arizona at San Diego – Arizona is poor and San Diego is looking like one of them plays better at home teams…

Chicago at New York Giants – Although it does not look like it when you watch them but, Chicago has played close, solid, full 60 minutes games with a defense that has not allowed more then 20 points in a game. NYG have bungled and bopped their way into a 1 & 2 record so far and they stand 19th versus aerial attacks, and have just two sacks since the opener… BONUS: Bears 24 – Giants 20

Monday Night Game:

New England at Miami – Mr Hoody and crew will not do much down in Florida, they have lousy defense this year and they have only beaten Buffalo and a lackluster beginning of the season Cincinnati team…

For up - to - date daily NFL news during the week go to Mac's Football Blog

Leaning against the Goal Post

Week 3 of the season has closed and closed with a squeaker on Monday Nite with my pick coming through for me by a hair, giving me a total of 11 out 16 right this week. Makes me 29 out of 48 for 60%, still some climbing for me to do to reach my goal of 80/85%

Some of my analysing came very close and some were right on: 2010 NFL Season - Week 3

Others were way off, like I had thought that Detroit just by chance, because of last weeks game vs Philadelphia, was getting it together and with them going against an lackluster Favre/Minnesota team I thought they could pull out a victory, HA! same ol' Lions we all have come to love, jeez what a mess of a team...

Dallas came on in a big way this week and probably kept Jerry Jones from firing the whole team.

I knew the Atl. vs NO game was going to be tough and close, but I thought that NO would come out on top in the end, but again another lost for a another team because of un-stabled Field Goal kicking. Seeing more and more of that this year.

Looks like M.Vick has found his old style at Philly and will have to look at their future games as to how my picks go.

As for Washington, this was their first road game and if it was an indicator of rest of season instead of just a one week fluke, then it looks like Washington might not be a very good road team. Which is good tid-bit worth knowing about some teams...

And that leads me to the basic stats for advantages:

16 TEAMS TOTAL:

8 teams won at home this week

8 teams won on the road this week

8 teams won who were picked as favorites

8 underdog teams won

That will take care of this week of football and as usual somewhere, someplace, sometime you'll find me leaning against the goal post, Knobby


For up - to - date daily NFL news during the week go to Mac's Football Blog

2010 NFL Season - Week 3

Sunday Games - Winning Picks in Red


Cleveland at Baltimore – Both teams have started season poorly. In this match–up Cleveland will end up on the short side in a low scoring battle.

Cincinnati at Carolina – This match–up sees two teams still searching in the 3rd week of season to find a pattern on both side of the ball. Sad to say Carolina has not got the same potential as in years past.

Dallas at Houston – In my book Houston lost last week, but that is neither here or there, but they are an explosive team which is going against a floppy team.

San Francisco at Kansas City – IMO Kansas City is looking like the real deal this season. I had high hopes for SF but so far they seem to be searching for meshing abilities

Detroit at Minnesota – GUT reaction at moment is Detroit is going to pull a winner out of the hat this week and I’m sticking to it

Atlanta at New Orleans – Pick polls have NO as about 87% favorites, I see a much closer, tougher game but still a Saints win

Tennessee at New York Giants – Giants return home after a resounding beat on by big brother and his crew last week, but they’re still allowing to many points and I have a feeling Tennessee will take advantage of that although it will end up close

Buffalo at New England – Bills playing at New England after Mr. Hoody lost to Jets, good luck Buffalo I will feel your pain

Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay - Both teams are 2 and 0 but one team has wins against Atlanta and Tennessee while the other team has victories against Cleveland and Carolina. Which team do you think ranks better with their victories?

Philadelphia at Jacksonville - Philadelphia in their 2nd week on the road after ALMOST losing in Detroit, going to Jacksonville at home.

Washington at St Louis – We will see how Washington plays on the road this week after 2 home stands. St Louis seems like a very even team, not much scoring on offense but not allowing much scoring either, although they’ve only played Arizona and Oakland so far.

Oakland at Arizona – Two evenly matched struggling teams and in this case you have to just go with the home advantage over a uncertain team who might end up having 3 different QBs play this week…

Indianapolis at Denver – This game scares me for 2 reasons. #1 is I just don’t know if the same Colts defense from last week will show up this week on the road. #2 Denver can put up numbers at home. The only saving grace is Denver hasn’t ran the ball very well so far.

San Diego at Seattle – This is the old game of we’re here and you’re there and we’re there and you’re here. Like I said last week, Seattle has always played pretty good at home

New York Jets at Miami – Jets are getting it all together tightly while Miami looks good on paper but in reality only has victories against a poor, poor Buffalo team and a vastly confused Brett Favre team – EXTRA = Jets 28 - Dolphins 12


Monday Night Game

Green Bay at Chicago – Lots of hype about this game between 2 teams who have played either poor and/or mis-guided teams with losing records. GB has played 2 teams with a combine W/L record so far this year of 1-3. Chicago has played 2 teams with a combine W/L record so far this year of 0-4. Of the 4 opposing teams Chicago has played the tougher 2 of the 4, but only by a hair.

For up - to - date daily NFL news during the week go to Mac's Football Blog

Leaning against the Goal Post

Week 2 of the NFL season is done, with some surprises that I'm sure you all are aware of by now. I came very close on some of the games, especially my Washington pick (ah, for a better FG kicker). Detroit is looking good and as I said in a previous post "Detroit has new talent and has to mesh yet", right now I am tossing it over about picking them come this Sunday against a very lackluster Viking team... We shall see when I post my picks Friday...

Overall so far this season I stand at: 18 out of 32 for a 56% pick average. I am trying my best to have a consistent 80 to 85 pick percentage this year...

As to the basic stats for advantages:

16 TEAMS TOTAL:

8 teams won at home this week

8 teams won on the road this week

10 teams won who were picked as favorites

6 underdog teams won

That's it for this Tuesday and if you look hard you'll find me leaning against the goal post, Knobby

For up - to - date daily NFL news during the week go to Mac's Football Blog

2010 NFL season – week 2

Sunday Games - Winning picks in Red


Arizona at Atlanta – Atlanta returns homes while this makes 2nd week away for Arizona. Some teams play better at home then those who are road weary.

Tampa Bay at Carolina - Carolina has better offense and they’re home.

Baltimore at Cincinnati – Cincinnati came on strong at the end last week, Baltimore to me just seems out of sorts and with this being 2nd week on road won’t help.

Kansas City at Cleveland – 2 teams that are still trying to make people believe in them, KC should after this week.

Chicago at Dallas – the 5 million offensive plays of Martz vs the old, the injured and the brave.

Philadelphia at Detroit – Detroit had their chance last week and came away the worse for the wear.

Buffalo at Green Bay – I just don’t see the buffalos stampeding on this field.

Miami at Minnesota – Favre and Vikings at home. It will be interesting to see if they have what it takes this year.

Pittsburgh at Tennessee – Pittsburgh may have won last week against Atlanta but Tenn. At home is a whole different ball of wax.

Seattle at Denver – OK, I made the mistake last week of forgetting that Seattle is very good at home and very lousy on the road.

St Louis at Oakland – For me this is a toss up, either one has potential and when in doubt always go home.

Jacksonville at San Diego – It is still early in season to see if Jacksonville has it together enough to win at home and away but SD looked very soft against KC last week.

New England at New York Jets - For last 2 years these teams have played close on Jets turf and on New England’s turf also. Jets can do it in this even year again if they stop losing the ball.

Houston at Washington – Both teams coming off of HUGE victories last week, IMO book Washington’s victory was bigger and more meaningful and that will carry on this week.

New York Giants at Indianapolis – Poor Colts, but I knew it was going to be a tough season for them. If Giants decide to rush more then pass the Colts will be hard pressed again this week. – EXTRA = COLTS 28 – NYG 24

Monday Game -

New Orleans at San Francisco – Well after last weeks lack of everything on San Francisco part this pick is easy.


For up - to - date daily NFL news during the week go to Mac's Football Blog

Leaning against the Goal Post

So the first week of NFL football is done and over with and I ended up with a pick record of 8 & 8. Others I know did better and some others did worse, it's all in how the ball bounces.

Just a quick rundown of how the teams did compared to their arrangements on the pick polls...

16 TEAMS TOTAL:

12 WON AT HOME

4 WON AWAY

Of the teams that had the highest pick percentage - 9 WON with 7 underdog team winning


For up - to - date daily NFL news during the week go to Mac's Football Blog

I'll post week 2 picks this coming Friday and as always you'll find me leaning against the goal post, Knobby

Week 1 - 2010 Season - Sunday/Monday Games

Well The Vikings sure went FLAT in the 2nd half, hope this isn't a prelude to how my picking season will be going. LOL

I had about 60/61 percent winning avg. last season...

Lets see if I can do any better with the remaining 15 games this week: Again this is the first week of the season and no one really knows how teams will be playing...

Sunday Games - Winning picks in Red


Miami at Buffalo - Miami is improving, Bills have a good defense

Detroit at Chicago - Detroit has new talent and has to mesh yet, Chicago with changes but not drastic

Indianapolis at Houston - this will be the first test of how Colts offense/defense is and whether Houston has improved enough in order to move out of Colts shadow

Denver at Jacksonville - west coast to east coast thingy never really works especially playing against Jacksonville

Cincinnati at New England - Cincinnati has dynamo and IMO N.E. is crumbling at the edges

Carolina at the New York Giants - as long as Giants defense hold up they'll be fine

Atlanta at Pittsburgh - Atlanta new talent, Pittsburgh without Big Ben

Cleveland at Tampa Bay - Cleveland's growing while Tampa Bay has solid base

Oakland at Tennessee - Another west to east thingy and we'll see if Tenn. defense is good

Green Bay at Philadelphia - GB very good offense still - Philly has new quarterback

San Francisco at Seattle - SF is one team that should go far this season

Arizona at St Louis - Question on both side of ball so we shall see

Dallas at Washington - Washington new people again - Dallas old people already banged up EXTRA: Washington 16 - Dallas 12

Monday Games -

Baltimore at New York Jets - Jets could be trouble this year for a lot of teams

San Diego at Kansas City - Kansas improving, SD missing players

Week 1 - 2010 Season

Well I hope everyone enjoy their Labor Day holiday and summer because it's time to get back to NFL football. As usual though the first few weeks will mostly be picks without much added opinions because no matter what takes place during summer and drafts, etc. the true nature of a team and its players for a new season is really not revealed until 3 or 4 games are played...

This year though should be an exciting one and lots and lots of hopeful teams out there. In fact I would say some of the old top teams, especially like New England or Colts might be in for a rough year.

My picks of teams to watch for this year are - St Louis, Tennessee, San Francisco, Jets and Detroit might have some surprising up-sets...

Let's get on with the season -

Thursday Night Game:

MINNESOTA (0-0) AT NEW ORLEANS (0-0)

Again the problem for the first few weeks of a new season is that there are no decisive
Offensive Statistics or Defensive Statistics, just well they could do this or well they should be strong here, etc.etc.etc. The one thing you can question from last season is whether some teams will continue to be good on the road and at home or will some teams just be good road teams or just good at home..

This game is a re-hash of last seasons Championship game where Favre took a pounding! and still came up smiling... although the Vikings lost...

The Vikings last year had 4 losses - all away games, The Saints had 3 losses all at the end of the season when it didn't really matter... Right at the moment Vikings are somewhere between 3.5 and 4.0 underdogs....

I think they will top the Saints in this game only for the fact that Favre needs to if nothing else...

My Pick: Vikings 26 - Saints 24

Sunday games I'll have come Friday

Be seeing you, Knobby

SUPER BOWL 2009 NFL SEASON

So here we are, at the Super Bowl and according to past games & stats will be played by 2 of the last remaining teams still standing - New Orleans Saints & Indianapolis Colts.

I have hear wild predictions so far as to scores being 45 to 24, 42 to 28, 52 to 45 and then there some more reasonable predictions 31 to 28, 31 to 27, 38 to 31 etc...

As I have noticed through this season for the most part whenever you had 2 high -offense teams meet, it always seemed like you ended with a low scoring game - reason? defense!

So lets start this puppy...






New Orleans Saints vs Indianapolis Colts




First off, it doesn't matter which team has been chosen to be home team. In my book this is away game for both teams.

Colts - looking at their away game stats minus the last Buffalo game (which they were not trying to win very hard) they come in at 218 PF & 121 PA in 7 games. That averages out to 31.1PF & 17.3 PA per game.

Saints - their away game stats are 246PF & 146PA in 7 games. That averages out to 35.1PF & 20.9PA per game. NOW, if you add in the last away game at Carolina they had (which some people say they were trying to win, others say different) then you have 256PF & 169PA in 8 games. That averages out to 32PF & 21.1PA per game.

There is where the difference is folks - in my books this is going to be a brutally close game. The only way I see this as not being close is if one team or both teams come in playing like 1st time High School football kids. The other outside reason would be bad official calling like they had during the Saints/Viking game. ( calling a TD when the guy is down 3 ft from the goal line????)

That's it! you can ponder this, you can ponder that, you can figure till you're blue in the face or read every possible stat there is, but the bottom line will be - how will the teams show up to play after 2 weeks off?


I'm betting on a close game, with COLTS winning 26 to 24...


Be seeing you, Knobby

Week 20 - Conference Championships - 2009 Season

Woo Woo! Woof Woof who lets the dogs out! 4 out 4 last week in picks!!! As in the words of Yogi Berra, that's like getting all of them right...

So here we are at the Championship Games - lets take a look see at what we got...


N.Y.Jets @ Indianapolis Colts - Following the Jets and their progress these last several weeks I have noticed that they are getting weery and defense although tops is ruffling around the edges.

This last game against SD, they came on top by a slim margin, because SD field goal kicker missed 3 FGs and Jets did not play sharp like they did against Cincinnati. Road travel getting to them? 4 roads game in 5 weeks!

Check some stats and you'll see that out of 5 meaningful games Jets have played on road (N.O., Miami, N. Eng., Cinn.,S.D.) against better teams the defense is not to tops. 114 total pts. gave up for an avg of 22.8 per game.

Colts defense looked good against Baltimore. Peyton and offense IMO was a little off, especially on some of his long throws. Other than that it seems like the resting did actually help the Colts this year.

Looking at their 5 meaningful home games against some top teams (Houston, N. Eng., Tenn., Denver, Baltimore) and you get a defense that has gave up only 87 total pts. for an avg. of 17.4 per game. Not to shabby...

I stand with my Colts and I do believe the travel will hit the Jets at Lucas Oil Stadium > Colts 26 - - Jets 18


Minnesota @ New Orleans - most people think this is a match up of two high flying teams, when IMO it's just one. I don't believe either will score in the 40's or 50's and only one will probably reach 30 pts.

Defense as usual in all these games will be the key and N.O. has a better defense by a slight margin. Minnesota has not played well on the road all year and after the few weeks of rest that N.O. had, it seems like they were back in form against Arizona.

As much as I would like to see Brett Favre make it this year I just don't think it will happen. Minnesota defense will not be able to contain Brees to any hopeful point. Although I don't see either team blowing the other out, I do believe N.O. will come out on top.

I might add this little disclaimer: that this game more so than the Jets/Colts game could go either way, NO by upright win or Minn. with a few lucky ticks at the right moment > New Orleans 30 - - Minnesota 25


Be seeing you, Knobby...

Week 19 - 2009 Playoffs

Welcome to week 19 of NFL 2009 season!

Some good games played last week, I ended up 2 for 2 winning my Jets & Arizona picks and losing my New Eng. & Phil. picks

First, I want to give you a couple of little playoff history tidbits here: In the last 6 playoff seasons 2003 - 2008 there has been a home team and/or a bye week team play in the Super Bowl.

2003 - New England { #1 defense AFC & over-all } - Home team adv. & bye week - won SB - - Carolina { #3 defense NFC & #6 over-all } lost SB but had home field 1 time & no bye week.

2004 - New England { #2 defense AFC & over-all } - Home team adv. & bye week - won SB - - Philadelphia { #1 defense NFC & #3 over-all } lost SB but had home field adv and bye week.

2005 - Seattle { #3 defense NFC & #7 over-all } - Home team adv. & bye week - lost SB - - Pittsburgh { #2 defense AFC & #4 over-all } won SB, played all 3 playoff game away & no bye week.

2006 - Chicago { #1 defense NFC & #3 over-all } - Home team adv. & bye week - lost SB - - Colts { #6 defense AFC & #11 over-all } won SB and had home field 2 times & no bye week.

2007 - New England { #3 defense AFC & #4 over-all } - Home team adv. & bye week - lost SB - - NYG { #6 defense NFC & #12 over-all } won SB played all 3 playoff games away & no bye week.

2008 - Pittsburgh { #1 defense AFC & #1 over-all } - Home team adv. & bye week - won SB - - Arizona { #6 defense NFC & #12 over-all } had home field 2 times & no bye week.

Defense can win Games! Be it strong, lucky, skilled or any and all 3, Defense can win Games.

Not a 100 % sure bet, but close. The odds of a better defense team winning and moving on during season, playoffs are in their favor more than not.


My winning picks are in the usual RED...


Saturday Games:

Arizona @ New Orleans - Arizona ranks 4th defense in NFC & 10th over-all among the playoff teams. New Orleans ranks 6th defense in NFC & 12th over-all.

New Orleans has rested they hurt while Arizona has gotten new hurts. Warner & crew played well against GB but their defense was slowly fading as it got further & further into game.

I think we will see a re-new N. O. team and they will give the home fans a little something to cheer about...

Baltimore @ Indianapolis - Baltimore ranks 2th defense in AFC & 3rd over-all among the playoff teams. Indianapolis ranks 5th defense AFC & 7th over-all.

Let me first say that I hope Colts management knows what their doing by what they have done!

Anyways, Baltimore came out fast and played hot against N..Eng. but N. Eng. seemed to be missing alot of alot like motivation, tackles, spunk, drive, etc.

Colts all season had a nick-knack paddy whack for somehow, somewhere pulling wins out of the hat. Hopefully their players are rested and not out of sinc. I stand by them again this week as usual...

Sunday Games:

Dallas @ Minnesota - Dallas ranks #1 defense NFC & #2 over-all among playoff teams. Minnesota ranks #3 defense in NFC & #8 over-all.

Well Dallas has surprise me, they've played really well, much better than I thought they would in the last several weeks. But they head to Minnesota where Mr. Favre is Mr. Perfect.

Dallas defense has gotten stronger in last weeks of play and Minnesota's has been good all along.

Only thing you have to look for is strength of opposing teams and could they be the reason for an improving defense or a seemly strong one. Looking at games for both teams Minnesota has a slight edge in playing stronger teams. I just don't think Dallas can carry it for another week.

N. Y. Jets @ San Diego - Jets rank #1 defense AFC & overall among playoff teams. S.D. ranks #6 AFC & 9th over-all.

Jets looked damn good against Cincinnati and why not they had motivation, defense, etc. and like I said last week I like the way the Jets look - good American football.

San Diego has been on a terror streak these last 11 weeks and alot of people are saying they could win SB. They haven't played the Jets yet!

For the Pro Football U-pickem gang - - Jets 22 - SD 20

See you all later, Knobby

Week 18 - 2009 Playoffs

Well now we begin the tense weeks of football where if your favorite team loses than that is it! done, gone, finished for season...

I, myself & me finished the regular season picking with 154 right out of 256 games giving me a 60% pick avg. Which means I'm average - lol, some out there picked worse and some picked a way lot better, but it's all for fun, right???????

Saturday Games:

N.Y.Jets @ Cincinnati - A re-do of what we just saw yesterday. I was impressed with the Jets yesterday, good tough playing. I like Jets Defense, in last 6 games (not including these last 2 with Colts,Cincinnati) Jets have allowed 87 pts which works out to 14.5 a game. Cincinnati in the same game span has allowed 107 pts or 17.8 a game.

Taking all into consideration - I believe the Jets will hold tight, have momentum on their side and squeak out a win, be it ever so close...

Philadelphia @ Dallas - Another re-do game of yesterday. Oh, what a mystery game Mr. Reid can play with his players. If for one moment Dallas thinks they scored something yesterday, they are in for a surprise come this game. Dallas needed that game yesterday, Phillips needed that game yesterday, Jerry Jones needed that game yesterday - Mcnabb did not, Reid did not, Eagles did not, but they need this game and will get it...

Sunday Games:

Baltimore @ New England - Check the back records of N.Eng and you will see that although Baltimore has improved and I like them as a team, they just are not going to have what it takes to take down New England on their own turf...

Green Bay @ Arizona - Another re-do game - let say this, Green Bay did not play Arizona yesterday, almost all of Arizona's first-team defense played only one possession and Kurt Warner sat after one quarter. Aaron Rodgers played three quarters, mostly against Arizona reserves.

Look at GB's losses, most of their losses have all came at the hands of high passing teams. Out of GB's 5 road wins, 4 have been against St. Louis, Detroit, Chicago and Arizona reserves, hardly record breaking teams there.

On the other hand Arizona has not played good at home and their wins at home have been over weak teams (Houston, Seattle, St. Louis) and their win over Minnesota was because Minnesota plays as bad on the road as Arizona does at home.

Still looking at a tough game but my edge is going to a full Arizona team this week...

Week 17 - Sunday Games - 2009 Season

Welcome to the last regular week of NFL football - this week will be like throwing darts at balloons with the wind blowing. Some teams are still in the hunt for playoff spots, while others are just going to try to end on a positive note or two. So picking winners this week is guessing which teams will do what with their starters, which teams are good enough to win with 3rd string players, etc, etc,.

As usual my winning picks are in that fabulous color RED!

COLTS

Jacksonville

New Orleans - I am changing this pick over to Carolina, because NO staff have decided to sit the big kids. Don't want them hurt over a silly little game, now do we???

Dallas

Detroit

Houston

Miami

Minnesota

N.Y. Jets

San Francisco

Atlanta

Arizona

Baltimore

Washington

Denver

Tennessee 24 - Seattle 17

See you next week for the playoffs!!!!! Knobby...